Greek far-right party stages rally against planned mosque

Greek far-right party stages rally against planned mosque

By Associated Press

Published: 23:19 BST, 5 September 2018 | Updated: 23:26 BST, 5 September 2018

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Several hundred supporters of Greece’s extreme right Golden Dawn party have staged a protest near central Athens against plans to build a state-funded mosque in the Greek capital.

Authorities used riot police buses to block roads near the construction site during Wednesday’s rally which ended with no reported arrests.

After years of delays, the government has agreed to build the mosque in an old industrial area of Athens to serve its large Muslim migrant community as well as tourists. Muslims currently use prayer houses set up unofficially.

Supporters of Greece’s extreme right Golden Dawn party wave flags during a rally against the construction of a mosque, in Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos spoke at the rally and described members of Greece’s left-wing government as being “traitors.”

Once openly neo-Nazi, the party currently has 15 members in Greece’s 300-seat parliament, after seeing a surge in support during years of financial crisis.

Supporters of Greece’s extreme right Golden Dawn party wave Greek flags during a rally against the construction of a mosque, in Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Golden Dawn party leader Nikos Mihaloliakos speaks during a rally against the construction of a mosque in Athens , on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Supporter of Greece’s extreme right Golden Dawn party hold Greek flags as they sing the national anthem during a rally against the construction of a mosque in Athens, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2018. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

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